Funeral set for one of the missing Iowa cousins

Dec. 17, 2012
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Lyric Cook-Morrissey, 10, shown in this undated family photo, was last seen Friday, July 13, 2012, by her grandmother as she and her cousin, Elizabeth Collins were leaving for a bike ride in Evansdale, Iowa. / Gannett/File

by The Des Moines Register, USA TODAY

A funeral for Lyric Cook-Morrissey, who would now be 11, will be held Dec. 29 at the Heartland Vineyard Church in Cedar Falls, Iowa, church officials have confirmed.

Lyric and her cousin Elizabeth Collins disappeared July 13 from Evansdale, Iowa. Their grandmother reported seeing them on their bicycles about 12:15 p.m. that day. When they disappeared, Lyric was 10, and Elizabeth was 8. The bikes and Elizabeth's purse and cellphone were found about four hours later.

Their bodies were found by hunters Dec. 5 in a secluded area of a rural park in Bremer County, Iowa, about 25 miles north of Evansdale.

While Lyric and her mother, Misty Cook-Morrissey, both belong to Countryside Vineyard Church in Evansdale, the service will be held at Heartland to accommodate what is anticipated to be a large crowd.

Lyric's mother is expected to speak at the ceremony.

Also Monday, investigators warned the public against speculation regarding their investigation into the girls' death. In a memo sent to the media, investigators urged the public not to link anyone interviewed by law enforcement to the killings.

The release was prompted by false rumors that someone had been arrested last week, said Capt. Richard Abben of the Black Hawk County Sheriff's Office said.

Abben said someone was brought in for questioning after authorities received a lead, and someone found out, prompting talk that the person had been arrested. He said the person was interviewed about what they know in the case, not necessarily about their potential involvement.

Abben said there have not been any people of "excessive interest" who've been interviewed after the discovery of the girls' bodies.

No charges have been filed or persons of interest named in the ongoing investigation.